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CNI has led a $20 million investment into the website, which acts as a virtual marketplace for over 250 luxe independent boutiques in 17 countries across the globe, including Browns, Start and Feathers in the UK. It makes its money by taking a cut of the boutiques' sales; last year's sales totalled $129 million.

"Farfetch has a unique position, connecting boutiques around the world boutiques around the world by e-commerce to sophisticated fashion customers like our magazine readers and website users. It's a natural for Condé Nast," Jonathan Newhouse, chairman and chief executive officer of CNI told
WWD.
The move is the latest in a series of investments into e-commerce for CNI; Condé Nast Germany recently bought a 26 per cent stake in Monoqi, an online store for high-end interiors, and has a 46 per cent share in luxury jeweller RenéSim.

Based in London, Farfetch.com was founded by José Neves, the man behind the b Store boutique, in 2008. It has plans to expand in Germany, Eastern Europe and Scandinivia and the US, which is its biggest and fastest-growing market, with sales of $32 million last year. It is also developing apps, including a click-and-collect service.

The company also sponsors the British Fashion Council's London Show Rooms, an initiative which promotes the capital's emerging talents abroad, with the aim of attracting international stockists.